Hegesh says that the Pentagon has given Trump options for the Israel-Iran conflict

Washington (AP) – Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, told legislators on Wednesday that the Pentagon was providing possible options to President Donald Trump, since he decides the next steps on Iran, but did not say if the military was planning to help with Israeli strikes, an action that could risk dragging the United States into a broader war in the Middle East.

Hegseth was in Capitol Hill during the last of his series of often combative audiences against legislators, who have pressed it in everything, from the prohibition of transgender troops until its use of a signal talk to share sensitive military plans earlier this year.

When questioning against the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said that “maximum strength protection” was being provided for US troops in the Middle East and that it is Trump’s decision if to provide Israel with a “Buster Bunker” bomb to attack in the nucleus of Iran’s nuclear program, which would require US pilots B-2. I would not indicate what the United States can do next.

Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg through Getty Images

Israel has reached multiple Iranian nuclear facilities in recent days, but one of its key uranium production sites, Fordo, requires deep penetrating ammunition.

Trump would not say on Wednesday if he has decided to order an American strike against Iran, a movement that Tehran warned that he would be received again with rigid doubts if it happens.

“I can do it, I may not do it,” Trump said in an exchange with the White House journalists. “I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”

Trump added that it is not “too late” so that Iran renounces its nuclear program while continuing to weigh the direct participation of the United States in Israel’s military operations aimed at crushing Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned early on Wednesday that the United States went to strikes aimed at the Islamic Republic “will result in irreparable damage to them” and that their country would not pay attention to Trump’s call to which I will go back.

“I say good luck,” Trump said when asked about the refusal of the supreme leader to surrender.

Hegseth said the United States Army was preparing options for Trump.

“They should have made a deal. President Trump’s word means something: the world understands that. And in the Department of Defense, our work is to be ready and prepared with options. And that is precisely what we are doing,” said Hegseth.

Evan Vucci through News

The United States has changed a significant number of fuel replenishment and combat planes to position them to be able to respond to the growing conflict, such as supporting possible evacuations or air attacks. Hegseth said this week that it was made to protect staff and air bases in the United States.

In the previous hearings, where Hegseth seemed to discuss the Pentagon Expenses Plan, legislators made it clear that they are not happy that Hegseth has not provided complete details about the first defense budget proposed by the Administration.

Trump has said that it would total $ 1 billion, a significant increase over the current level of more than $ 800 billion.

Hegesh, who appears before the Senate’s armed services committee on Wednesday, has spent a lot of time during his first months in the position promoting the social changes he is doing in the Pentagon. It has been much less visible in the most critical international security crises and negotiations of the administration that involve Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Iran.

For example, Hegseth directed the name change of a Navy ship that had honored Harvey Milk, an activist of the murdered homosexual rights that served as a sailor during the Korean War. He has also promoted other movements to eradicate programs of diversity, equity and inclusion and said that a prohibition of transgender troops in the army was a way of recovering the “warrior spirit.”

Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg through Getty Images

Wednesday’s audience was the first time Hegseth left before some senators since his confirmation of the Senate with a tie vote. It was the closest vote of any member of the Trump cabinet.

While he has spoken a lot about making the army more lethal, it was its use of the application of unreasonable and unknown signal messaging that quickly caught public attention.

Established by the then National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, a group chat was used that included Hegseth and other leaders of the Superior Administration to share information about the next military strikes against the Hutis rebels in Yemen.

The chat came to light because the Atlantic chief editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to him. Waltz assumed the responsibility of the Gaffe, but Hegseth was strongly criticized for sharing details about military attacks in that conversation and another that included his wife and brother.